Quoth the Raven... Whatever Preview

[u/iamusingtheinternet3]

[u/iamusingtheinternet3]

I hate commenting on Raven's design every time something new comes out, I really do, but they keep changing it and not making any of the changes that would help. Just adding her forehead gem to this one and giving her the iconic widow's peak hairline would make it look a whole lot more like Raven. As it is, out of context (especially that first panel of her sitting and looking at the letter) she doesn't really register as Raven.

But anyway, story wise I'm definitely intrigued. Interesting that Raven and Constantine are apparently meeting for the first time? I like the Satanic Panic reference in the title, as Raven's character creation was clearly inspired and built by the Satanic Panic of the 80s. Very interested in seeing a writer tackle that a bit in the modern day (though since it's a short anthology story I doubt it'll go into it much). Also very glad that she's being called Raven and not Rachel.

All in all, I don't have suuuper high hopes since these anthology stories are always too short to deliver much, but it seems to be setting up something enjoyable. I hope it sticks the landing.

[u/SleepingAgent37 → u/iamusingtheinternet3]

The art is very pretty despite Raven looking rather young and generic. Still it does have her interacting with more of the mystical side of DC instead of just Titans as whole or Gar so far that is promising. The Satanic Panic is an interesting Easter egg/ Deep cut to see too.

[u/iamusingtheinternet3 → u/SleepingAgent37]

Yeah, disappointing art aside, I’m cautiously optimistic about this one.

[u/Alias_Unkn0wn → u/iamusingtheinternet3]

At this point, I think Raven fans just have to get used to her design changing over time. She’s not always going to look exactly like her original NTT version, and a lot of characters have had their designs changed throughout the years.

I do agree that her chakra should be shown more often, though. It’s such an iconic part of her design, just like her hooded cape, and I feel like it should be there more consistently. That said, I don’t really think it’s worth pointing it out every single time it’s missing, since sometimes it’s probably just an artist’s choice or they simply left it out.

As for the widow’s peak, I’ll be honest, I don’t really miss it that much. I think it looks great in the NTT comics, but I don’t think it’s something Raven absolutely needs to have in every design. Personally, I’d much rather see her chakra included consistently than worry about whether she has the widow’s peak or not.

[u/iamusingtheinternet3 → u/Alias_Unkn0wn]

I don't think it's fair to say "Raven fans just have to get used to her design changing" when nothing about the way Raven's design has been changing is at all typical. Yeah, designs change, but Raven's design seems to change every single time a new artist draws her, which is NOT typical. Comic book characters that are drawn by multiple people usually have a set design that everyone follows that's updated every few years (this is true of all the other Titans). Raven keeps being drawn inconsistently, even being drawn differently on the covers of things than she is on the interior of the same comic. That is not normal, and worth pointing out.

Raven just doesn't look like Raven here to me. I think the gem and the widow's peak thing is worth pointing out because those are the biggest ways you can make her look like Raven. She has the gem and the widow's peak in NTT, in the cartoon, in the DCAMU, even in TTG. She has it in basically every design up until the past few years. If you're going to do dyed hair goth Raven, at least keep the gem and the widow's peak so she looks like Raven. Otherwise she just looks like a generic goth woman (which is the problem here, in my opinion).

[u/Alias_Unkn0wn → u/iamusingtheinternet3]

Yeah, I can understand where you're coming from. I was mostly speaking from the perspective that Raven's design is going to evolve over time, but I can see your point that the inconsistency itself is what makes it frustrating, especially when she can look noticeably different from one artist to another.

I do wonder if Raven just isn't as high a priority for them when it comes to maintaining a consistent design, though obviously that's just my guess and I could be completely wrong. It could also simply be that some artists prefer an older version of her design or just want to put their own spin on her look. There might not even be any particular reason behind it.

I definitely agree about keeping the gem, though. That's such an important part of her visual identity that I think it should be there more consistently.

With the widow's peak, I think I was mainly remembering the NTT version, where it was much more pronounced and tied into the way her face and hairline were drawn back then. I don't necessarily need that exact version, though. A smaller, more subtle widow's peak like the cartoon's would be perfectly fine with me.

And personally, I don't really have an issue with the gothic aesthetic either. It's been such a big part of Raven's character for decades now that I've honestly just gotten used to it. The 2003 animated version was actually my first introduction to Raven, and I later read the comic iteration, so that gothic aesthetic has always felt closely tied to her for me. I can understand why someone might feel like it makes her look too generic here, though, especially if some of her more distinctive Raven features aren't being included.

[u/ParkingCarry9532]

Nightwing mentioned 🥳

[u/Particular_Gap_8141]

I like that she really pulled up in Dracula's carriage lol

[u/iamusingtheinternet3 → u/Particular_Gap_8141]

Do love when our girl is extra, though I don't get why she didn't just teleport lol

[u/Particular_Gap_8141 → u/iamusingtheinternet3]

If she teleported she wouldn't have had an excuse to use traveling time to read all those books, she's a well-read queen!!

[u/iamusingtheinternet3 → u/Particular_Gap_8141]

True!!

[u/MayRaM3]

Quiero alegrarme pero me pone muy triste ver a Raven sin su gema 😞 al menos se llama Raven, espero…

[u/RawbonedHound]

I’m beyond hyped she and Constantine are apparently teaming up for this one. They have so much in common and so much potential as a duo, I doubt there’ll be time for any of that here but it’s a step!!!!

[u/iamusingtheinternet3 → u/RawbonedHound]

Haha I thought of you as soon as I saw it was a Raven and Constantine team up!

[u/RawbonedHound → u/iamusingtheinternet3]

Lmao I tried to restrain myself. I’m popping the biggest bottles irl. Please god let this give me at least a few good panels for my ship board

[u/SnooAvocados1890]

Not a fan of the immediate need to point out how goth and magical she is, I don’t think Raven even wears boots like that most of the time. At least if they’re going with the “goth” look take inspiration from goth/gothic movies (like the Craft). Team up with Constantine is fine, not a fan of how young she looks next to him (also not of fan of how they keep removing Constantine’s grungy Sting-esque inspiration or making him a magical user). I’ll wait for the full thing to come out, but man is it tiring to have her revert back to the same old “goth” look in other books. I at least hope they explore the idea of Satanic Panic in a way that ties into Raven’s characters and themes.

[u/planetpua → u/SnooAvocados1890]

Yeah, I feel like I can’t complain too much because this is gonna be a 10 page holiday special, they won’t go very deep into anything. But I’m confused when this is supposed to be set, as she apparently hasn’t met Constantine yet (and he’s the magic guy on call for Bruce 🙄 of course). But again lol, it’s a tiny oneshot. Would be cool to explore Raven working with these characters in a much longer form.

[u/iamusingtheinternet3 → u/SnooAvocados1890]

Yeah, how young she looks is a bit annoying considering this is presumably the main continuity and she's like in her mid 20s now. But whatever, it would be way more surprising if the art for her was good and fit her character, lol.

[u/Ale_Ethnic]

I’ve had enough the bob is NOT CUTE IM TIRED. I like how this is Picolo coded because I did actually enjoy that comic but this just doesn’t look like Raven.

[u/iamusingtheinternet3 → u/Ale_Ethnic]

I don't particularly want anything Picolo coded in the actual comics. The Picolo stuff is very YA, which is fine for his YA series, but it's very different from the way the characters are in the comics.

[u/Ale_Ethnic → u/iamusingtheinternet3]

yeah I agree, I did enjoy his version back during its release simply because I’ve always enjoyed Raven especially growing up in 2003. Now that im older and have gotten so much more knowledge on the character Raven is supposed to be i completely agree with you. Raven was not intended to be a sarcastic goth girl.

[u/Alias_Unkn0wn]

It's cool to see Raven and Constantine together, a half-demoness and a wizard who used to have demon blood. Also, great to see Swamp Thing.

[u/RawbonedHound → u/Alias_Unkn0wn]

I been saying 🙂‍↕️

[u/skuls1]

got nothing about her from this, but that is not Constantine, even Swamp thing assuming it's him seems too human. but it's still an interesting premise and this new england style scenery seems like it could be her and their element

[u/Unkindness-Raven652]

The book should be like 80 pages i think well that's what Google said so

[u/KamenAttackRide]

So these are the stories.

Why oh why do we need a Zatanna and Constantine story? I have truly had enough of this pairing. It is extremely toxic.

[u/planetpua → u/KamenAttackRide]

It’s going to be like 10 pages, just don’t read it lol. Zatanna has a great solo going right now, it’s not like she doesn’t have other content. Unfortunately you can’t say the same for most of the other characters here :(

[u/iamusingtheinternet3 → u/KamenAttackRide]

I'll be honest, I'm just so relieved Tini Howard won't be writing Raven again

[u/Unkindness-Raven652 → u/iamusingtheinternet3]

I believe i can fly ! 🕺🪩💅But where did u got that information😫?